Monday, July 1, 2013

‘Biggest protest in Egypt’s history’: LIVE UPDATES

Millions have taken to the streets across Egypt to demand the resignation of President Morsi on the first anniversary of his inauguration. But Morsi loyalists are staging counter-demonstrations, saying they will defend the leader with all means available.

19:38 GMT:Egypt's armed forces have banned the president and his entourage from leaving the country, ITAR-Tass reported.

19:20 GMT: Egypt's second largest Islamist party, the Nour Party, says it fears the army's return to public life in a "big way" after the military gave politicians 48 hours to resolve the country's crisis.

On its Facebook page, the party called for Morsi to take the "number and diversity" of the demonstrators into consideration and "realize the Egyptian people have legitimate demands that must be answered."

19:04 GMT: The Egyptian Brotherhood's Twitter says a statement will be issued "shortly."

18:57 GMT: The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party has denied that Khairat al-Shater's bodyguards were arrested.

18:32 GMT: The headquarters of the moderate Egyptian Islamist Wasat party has been set on fire.

18:30 GMT: President Mohamed Mursi is meeting the head of Egypt's armed forces along with the prime minister, according to a statement on the president's official Facebook page.

17:55 GMT: A Morsi aide has called the army's ultimatum a "military coup," the Guardian reported.

"Obviously we feel this is a military coup," the presidential aide said. "But the conviction within the presidency is that [the coup] won't be able to move forward without American approval."

17:17 GMT: A house belonging to Shater has reportedly been attacked by "armed thugs."

16: 20 GMT: Fifteen bodyguards of Brotherhood leader Khairat al-Shater have been arrested by security forces, Reuters reported, citing "security sources." Shater's family reportedly phone Al Jazeera to report that his home was under police attack. The sources said security forces were involved in an exchange of fire with the guards after going to arrest them for unlawful possession of firearms.

14:36 GMT: Egypt's army will not be involved in politics or government, Egypt armed forces chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said in a statement. He wants politicians to agree on an inclusive road map for the country's future, but says the army will offer its own road map if politicians fail to come to a solution in 48 hours. ..........................................